The Complete Printable Hospital Bag Checklist For Labor And Delivery

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Are scared that your natural birth in the hospital might not go well? You do not have to feel anxious about that when you have the right supplies with you. Having a complete printable hospital bag checklist for labor and delivery puts your mind at ease.

The good news is that cesarean births have been trending down for the past few years. Doctors and mothers alike are doing better about delivering babies as it was intended.

That’s because mothers are doing better to prepare and educate themselves about the best ways to do things. They use tools and resources even in the midst of labor to make it happen.

I know that you’re one of those women. You’ve already done the preparation and have the confidence you need. It’s just sometimes having that extra little thing or two can make you so much more comfortable when you’re in labor.

Complete Printable Hospital Bag Checklist For Labor And Delivery

So here are the best things to keep in your hospital bag for labor and delivery. This isn’t just your hospital bag with a robe and some toothpaste. This isn’t your new baby bag with burp cloths, onesies, and a pacifier.

There are the things to ease your aches and pains and keep your mood calm during labor and delivery. You can try some at home while you’re working on your relaxation techniques. But it can be hard to judge exactly how you’ll respond until your right in the middle of labor.

So I suggest taking ALL of these items that you know you want to try. Then you’ll know in the thick of things what will work for you. But better to be with it than without it in order to make your labor more relaxing and enjoyable.

The Essentials For Peace Of Mind

Let’s get these out of the way because they’re more the things you don’t want to forget, even though they’re not necessarily going to help you physically feel better. These items will take stress off your mind because you’ll have already taken care of the issues that may arise.

birth plan – so you can remember your desires, the staff will know your wishes, and you’ll be able to guide yourself the direction you want to go, even if things don’t happen perfectly right.
clary sage essential oil – this is for keeping your labor from plateauing by helping to stimulate contractions. Rub it across your abdomen and low back, but not in super sensitive areas.

Items To Enhance Your Relaxation

If you’d like to be massaged while you’re trying to stay comfortable, touch can definitely soothe and calm you into the appropriate mood. Be sure to pack:

massage therapy vibrators – for tense muscles in your back or legs.
massage lotions, oils, or hand tools – to have your husband rub you down with.
heating pad – to ease aches and pains that touch doesn’t feel comfortable for.

Creating great imagery and the proper mood definitely makes or breaks how well you can relax. Use things like:

IPOD – for listening to calming music or relaxing spa sounds
bath salts – if you want to get in the tub (but not for a water birth)
essential oils or fragrances – use lavender, jasmine, and ylang-ylang to diffuse and breathe in.
battery-powered candles – you can’t have an open flame in the hospital.

Then there are some small annoyances that you want to prevent before they even happen. Make sure you have:

chapstick – so that you don’t get dry mouth while you’re deep breathing.
sleep blinders or eye masks – to block out the light, especially if it’s daytime.
ear plugs – to minimize the noisy distractions, like the annoying sounds of carts rolling down the hall in the hospital.

If you utilize all of these things together, you’ll be setting yourself up for a magnificent time of pure meditative relaxation. This is exactly what you want because your worries and tensions will ease naturally.

If you utilize all of these things together, you’ll be setting yourself up for a magnificent time of pure meditative relaxation.

Now, you may not need to focus on relaxing so much because you’re already joyful about what’s happening. Trust me, it’s absolutely possible.

So having other items to keep you from getting bored can really help too. Because honestly, there can be a lot of waiting around, even when you’re actively engaged in supporting your labor contractions.

Distraction Items For The Bored Parents

It may be fine to have your husband put together these items because he’ll likely be using them more than you. But you can certainly have some fun with your labor by bringing a few extra things.

books or IPAD/laptop – if you’re able to enjoy reading or watching something all at the same time.
cards – because you can play strip poker right now and have it be totally okay. 🙂
small travel games – if you really dig chess or checkers, dice games, etc.

Things For Hope & Memory Making

I hope you have an experience where you’ll be able to relive your baby’s birth in your mind forever. Being able to capture how you feel, what you see, and how this moment was experienced can create perspectives that are truly joyful.

notebooks or journals for writing – because you’ll never regret writing down exactly how you felt.
cameras or a photographer – for those of you that want to document every moment. Obviously, you can’t pack the photographer in your bag, but you get it.
affirmation cards – so that you can have your favorite inspirational reminders right there to support you. Print off your favorites and read them when you’re in the rough patches.

The Little Extras You Shouldn’t Have To Do Without

Here are a few extra goodies that you may not have thought about that can help your labor and delivery experience even more.

hard candies/suckers – you’ll get ice chips or popsicles at the hospital, but a candy can be more satisfying and last longer. Plus, with all the deep breathing you’re doing, dry mouth is pretty common.
birthing ball or peanut ball – if yoga is your thing and rocking or swaying with those sensations feels great, then by all means tote that ball in with you.
snacks – because you may have to go a long time without eating. You may have to sneak these, depending on where you are. But you should absolutely have some nuts or dried fruit for added energy, especially at an exhausting time like this.
socks – unless you’d rather wear those awful hospital socks with the scratchy rubber bottoms, your feet will likely get cold.

There are a myriad of other items that you could bring, but these are the common basics. The first time around I probably brought everything on this list. But I learned almost immediately what I absolutely wanted: my IPOD to listen to Enya, and just chapstick.

Don’t be afraid or feel silly to take anything and everything you think might help. It’s never a problem to do so. The hard part is actually remembering to get the things you’ll need AFTER our birth is finished.

Don’t Forget After Birth Pains

You’re always so focused on the preparation and the actual event, which is great, by the way. Just also make sure that you’re packing the stuff that will ease the after birth pains too.

Whenever I’m asked to bring a gift to a baby shower, I take a recovery bundle. If I’m asked what I think the best gift is for a new mom, I say Earth Mama Angel’s Baby’s Recovery Essentials Bundle.

Check it out and you’ll know why it’s so important. Your bottom will thank you!

>> Make Sure To Have Your Postpartum Recovery Essentials Bundle <<

Did you get your checklist? Scroll back up and get this entire list right sent to your email. I even made room for you to add in extra items you don’t want to forget.

Steps To Take Right Now

Get your checklist freebie above, print it off and add anything extra you want with you.
Create your birth plan, review it with your doctor, and print multiple copies if you haven’t already.
Get yourself a recovery bundle for everything afterwards. Trust me, you’ll want it.
Pack your labor bag at least a month in advance, along with your hospital stay and new baby bags.
Put it in your car or by the door so it’s not forgotten.

Then you’ll be all set! Labor doesn’t have to be terrible. With a little preparation and having the right things in your labor bag, it can actually be a little pampering with the right attitude in mind.

What’s in your labor bag?

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